Allingham



J. ALLINGHAM. FLOTATION MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 4. I919.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

3 HEETS-SHEET 1.

J. ALLINGHAM FLOTATION MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 19:9.

Patented Nov; 2, 1920.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- mmvron Jam Ja /2M ATTORNEYS .J. ALLINGH AM.

FLOTATIQN MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1919.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MT H/ Arronwer'i UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

JOHN .ALLINGHAM, 013' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ALLINGHAM FLOTATION MACHINE COMPANY.

' FLOTATIOILMAGHINE.

Application filed September 4, 1919.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ALLINGH M, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Flotation-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of mineral separation by means of the so called flotation process. In this process the ore is treated in the presence of water with various compounds which are adapted to produce an oily froth or foam, this froth or foam floating on the surface of the water and being continuously withdrawn therefrom. The material used to form the froth is such that it has a peculiar aflinity for the values which it is desired to recover, and the froth contains in suspension the mineral values which it is desired to save.

The principal object of my invention is to produce a novel and simple form of machine for utilizing this process.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. chine.

Fig. 3 is a section on a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, this plane being viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4: is an end view of the invention viewed in the direction of the arrow & of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on an enlarged scale on.

a plane represented by the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view on the same scale of a section on a plane represented by the line 66 of Fig. 5.

In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawings, heads 12 and 13 are provided, and between which is placed a sheet metal member 14, this sheet metal member 1 1 having turned over lips 15 at either side thereof and having a bottom 16 struck on an arc of a circle from the center of an oscillating shaft and air pipe 17. The parts 12, 13,141, 15 and 16 form atank in which the flotation operation takes place. 3

The oscillating shaft and air pipe 17 are Specification of Letters Patent.

'venient source of power.

2 is a side elevation of the same ma- Iatented Nov. 2, 1920.

Serial No. 321,729.

mounted in bearings 18 carried on the ends 12 and 13, one end thereof being provided with a pipe cap 19 and the other end being provided with a reducing coupling 20 into which an air supply pipe 21 is connected. At either side of the sheet metal member 14: outside the lips 15, are launders 22, these launders sloping gradually from the ends 12 and 13 toward the center and terminatmg; in a spout 23 through which the froth and values are delivered. The air pipe 17 is oscillated in the bearings 18 by means of a lever arm 30, a connecting rod 31 and a pulley 32, the pulley 32 being driven by means of a belt (not shown) from any con- The connecting rod 31 is pivoted at one end on a pin 33 secured in the pulley 32, and on the other end on apinS carried on the lever arm 30. The pulley 32 turns freely on a shaft 35 secured in the end 12.

Three bolts tO pass through the air pipe 17 being secured therein by means of nuts 41. Extending longitudinally of the apparatus and secured bymeans of U'bolts 42 to the bolts 4:0 is a skimmer plate 43. Secured to the bottom of the bolts 41 by means of nuts 141 are steel plates 45 which are bent up as best shown in Fig. 6. Centrally secured on said plates or formed therefrom are gangue agitators 4L6.

Resting on each of the plates "15 is a;pair of perforated metal boxes 47 which can conveniently be formed of wire screen, these boxes being secured by means of a carriage bolt 48 and a thumb nut 49 so that they can be readily removed. Inside the boxes 4'7 are canvas-bags 50, each of these canvas bags being provided with an air inlet pipe 51 clamped in. place in the wall of the bag by means of nuts 52. The parts 47 to 50 form air distributing means for finely dividing and distributing air. The pipe 51 extends up and connects into the pipe 17. Opening into the bottom of the machine is an outlet pipe 60 which is provided with an elbow 61 and aswing nipple 62.

The method of operation of the invention is as follows:

Air being supplied to the pipe 17 through the pipe 21 and power being supplied to the pulley 32 the following action takes place:

The rotation of the pulley 32 oscillates the shaft17 through the arm 30 and the connection rod 31. The oscillation of the shaft 17 swin s the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 from one side of the machine to the other, and during this swinging the air under pressure is forced out through the canvas bags 50 and through the openings in the perforated boxes 47 so that it rises through the mass of material in the machine in the form of fine bubbles. Due to the constant swinging of the boxes from side to side inside the machine, these bubbles are widely distributed throughout the mass of the material and a very efficient frothing action takes place. Owing to the movement of the perforated boxes 47 sidewise in the solution the deposit of sludge or sediment thereon is prevented, the contents of the machine tending to wash off any such sediment as the boxes swing from side to side. The agitators 46 also tend to continuously stir up and keep in motion any solid material which may tend to settle in the bottom of the machine.

During the operation of the machine the skimmer plate 43 is moved from side to side constantly and tends to force the froth outwardly from the center of the machine and over the lips 15 into the launders 20 down which it flows being delivered through the spout 21. Material is introduced into the machine by any convenient means (not shown) the gangue being withdrawn continuously through the outlet pipe 60.

My invention should not be confused with flotation machines in which a stationary air distributing member is used or with those in which such a member is rotated. here stationary air distributers are used especially in slimy or adherent pulp the opening in the air distributers soon become clogged due to deposits thereon. Some inventors have sought 'to overcome this by rotating distributers in a cylindrical tank. This is only partly efficacious as after the machine has been in operation a short time the whole mass of pulp turns with the distributers and thereafter the relative movement between the distributers and the pulp is very small. By moving the distributers back and forth their upper surfaces are scoured by the pulp and all the small openings therein are kept free. As the eflicie'ncy of the machine depends in a great degree on the fineness with which the air is injected it is most important to keep these openings free.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank the sides of the tank being lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and de pending downwardly therefrom; steel plates secured to said bolts near the bottom of said tank; perforated metal boxes carried on top of said plates; a canvas bag inside each of said boxes; an air inlet pipe connecting the interior of-each of said boxes with said air pipe; members projecting downwardly be low said boxes to form gangue agitators; and a skimmer plate secured to said bolts at about the level of said tank sides.

2. A flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and de pending downwardly therefrom; perforated metal boxes carried on said bolts; a canvas bag inside each of said boxes; an air inlet pipe connecting the interior of each of said boxes with said air pipe; members projecting downwardly below said boxes to form gangue agitators; and a skimmer plate secured to said bolts at about the level of said tank sides.

3. A flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being 'lowerthan the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and depending downwardly therefrom; perforated metal boxes carried 011 said bolts; an air in let pipe connecting the interior of each of said boxes with said air pipe; members projecting downwardly below said boxes to form gangue agitators; and a skimmer plate secured to said bolts at about the level of said tank sides.

4. A flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and depending downwardly therefrom; steel plates secured to said bolts near the bottom of said tank; perforated metal boxes carried on top of said plates; a canvas bag inside each of said boxes; an air inlet pipe connecting the interior of each of said boxes with said air pipe; and a skimmer plate secured to said bolts at about the level of said tank sides.

5. A flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and depending downwardly therefrom; perforated metal boxes carried on said bolts; a canvas bag inside each of said boxes; an air inlet pipe connecting the interior of each of said boxes with said air pipe; and a skimmer plate secured to said bolts at about the level of said tank sides.

6. A flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and depending downwardly therefrom; perforated metal boxes carried on said bolts; an air inlet pipe connecting the interior of each of said boxes with said air pipe; and a skimmer plate secured to said bolts at about the level of said tank sides.

7. A flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and depending downwardly therefrom; steel plates secured to said bolts near the bottom of said tank; perforated metal boxes carried on top of said plates; a canvas bag inside each of said boxes; an air inlet pipe connecting the interior of each of said boxes with said air pipe; members projecting downwardly below said boxes to form gangue agitators; and a skimmer plate mounted at about the level of the sides of said tank and movable with said air pipe.

8. A flotation machine comprising a tank; laundcrs formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being'lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating boxes with said air pipe members project- 7 ing downwardly below said boxes to form gangue agitators; and a skimmer plate mounted at about the level of the sides of said tank and movable with said air pipe.

9. A flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and depend ing downwardly therefrom; perforated metal boxes carried on said bolts; an air inlet pipe connecting the interior of each of said boxes with said air pipe; members projecting downwardly below said boxes to form gangue agitators; and a skimmer plate mounted at about the level of the sides of said tank and movable with said air pipe.

10. A flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over'said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and depending downwardly therefrom; perforated metal boxes carried on said bolts; an air inlet pipe connecting the interior of each of said boxes with said air pipe; and a skimmer plate mounted at about the level of the sides of said tank and movable with said air pipe.

11. A flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launder-s; an air pipe extend ing centrally over said tank parallel to said sides, means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and depending downwardly therefrom; perforated metal boxes carried on said bolts; an air inlet pipe connecting the interior of each of said boxes with said air pipe; and a skimmer plate mounted at about the level of the sides of said tank and movable with said air pipe.

12. A. flotation machine comprising a tank; launders formed on either side of said tank, the sides of the tank being lower than the ends so that the froth can overflow said sides and into said launders; an air pipe extending centrally over said tank parallel to said sides; means for supplying air to the interior of said air pipe; means for rotating said pipe a portion of a revolution and return; bolts secured in said pipe and depending downwardly therefrom; an air inlet pipe connecting the interior of each of said boxes with said air pipe; and a skimmer plate mounted at about the level of the sides 10 of said tank and movable with said air pipe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 28th day of August 1919.

JOHN ALLINGHAM. 

